What is the purpose of the ANA Professional Issues Panels?
The world of professional nursing practice and health policy is ever evolving to meet the new dynamics of care needs in every setting. In order to effectively address these changes, ANA uses Professional Issues Panels to drive toward informed decision-making, member engagement and active dialogue with members. Panels will be convened around specific practice and policy questions as approved by the ANA Board of Directors. Each Panel will include both a Steering Committee and an Advisory Committee to ensure sufficient rigor while also allowing for broad feedback from a full range of practice arenas and interests.

What is the difference between the Steering Committee and the Advisory Committee?Steering Committee – The Steering Committee will typically include up to 15 ANA members who will do a deep dive into the topic. This committee will meet intensively via conference call for a three to six month period, depending on the topic.
Advisory Committee - The Advisory Committee will provide additional information, feedback and advice to ANA and the Steering Committee by responding online to specific questions, documents and dialogue

GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ANA PROFESSIONAL ISSUES PANELS

Do I get paid to be a panel member?No. All positions on the Professional Issues Panels are on a volunteer basis only.

Do I need to be an RN to apply for one of the panels? Yes. You must be an RN to apply for any of the Professional Issues Panels. ANA bylaws specify that only RNs registered to practice in the U.S. are eligible for membership in ANA.

Do I need to be an ANA member to apply for a Professional Issues Panel?Yes. All RN applicants must be ANA members. If you are a “state only” member with your state organization, this does not include being an ANA member. You must upgrade your state membership to a dual membership-state/ANA. Please contact your state nurses association for more information.
If you are not an ANA member, Apply Here.

I'm not an ANA member but I am a member of the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) and/or the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), can I still apply?Yes. As a member of AORN or APNA, you can apply for any of ANA’s professional issues panels. Both AORN and APNA are Premier Organizational Affiliate Members of ANA so this automatically gives all members of AORN and APNA an ANA e-membership. Find more information here on ANA’s e-membership.

What is the time commitment if I am picked to be on the Steering Committee?
The chosen Steering Committee members will meet at least once a month via conference call for approximately two hours in addition to email dialogue. This committee will meet intensively via conference call for a three to six month period, depending on the topic.

What is the time commitment for the Advisory Committee?
The Advisory Committee will meet less frequently than the Steering Committee. This Committee will provide additional information, feedback and advice to ANA and the Steering Committee by responding online to specific questions, documents and dialogue. The Advisory Committee requires approximately one hour per month and a couple of Advisory Committee conference calls during the duration of the panel. It all depends on what information is requested from the Steering Committee.

What experiences or interests are needed to apply for a panel?
The qualifications required are listed on the subpage for each panel.

Do I have to have all of the criteria listed?No. An applicant can meet one, two or all of the criteria listed! Also, don’t forget, all applicants not picked to be on the Steering Committee are placed on the Advisory Committee associated with the panel.

ELIGIBILITY FOR APPLYING FOR A PANEL

Do I need to be an ANA member to apply for a Professional Issues Panel?Yes. All applicants must be ANA members. If you are a “state only” member with your state organization, this does not include being an ANA member. You must upgrade your state membership to a dual membership-state/ANA. Please contact your state nurses association for more information.
If you are not an ANA member, click here to apply.

Do I need to be a Registered Nurse (RN) to apply? Yes. You must be an RN to apply for one of the Professional Issues Panels. To be an ANA member, you must be an RN.

I’m a student nurse. Can I apply to be on the panel?
If you’re an ANA member and an RN, you can apply to be on a panel. ANA bylaws specify that only RNs registered to practice in the U.S. are eligible for membership in ANA. Once you pass the NCLEX and become and RN, you can be a member.

I have an ANA e-membership. Can I apply for a panel?Yes. All levels of ANA membership can apply to be on a panel, this includes ANA e-memberships.

I’m an “In-State Only Member” with my state nurses’ association (i.e. Vermont State Nurses’ Association). Am I able to apply for the panel? No. You must be an ANA member to apply. “In-State Only Members” do not have ANA benefits. You would need to upgrade your “In-State Membership” through your state nurses association. If you have questions about upgrading to a dual-membership (your state and ANA), please contact your state nurses association for more information.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A PROFESSIONAL ISSUES PANEL

I am interested in applying to be on a Professional Issues Panel. How do I apply?Click here to find the panel you would like to apply for located on ANA’s website.

Can I email my resume/CV directly to ANA without submitting an online application form? No. You must go through the online application process and submit your resume/CV via the online application form.

Can I still apply for a panel if the application period is closed?No. Unfortunately once the panel application period is closed, applications will no longer be accepted for the panel (this includes for the Steering Committee and Advisory Committee).

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE APPLICATION FORM

Why am I having issues attaching my CV/Resume?
All CVs/resumes MUST be in Word, PDF and plain text format. The system will not accept any other format except these 3 formats. Resave the document in Word, PDF, or plain text format and attach it.

I don’t know my ANA member number. Where can I get this information?
Your ANA member ID number can be found on your ANA Nursing World account. You can also print your ID card from your account. If you are unable tolocate your member number with your ANA member account, you can also call ANA Membership at (800) 923-7709.

I’m a member of an ANA Organizational Affiliate. Is there a place on the application form where I can add this information?Yes. There is a dropdown on the application form so you can pick the OA you belong to.

Did ANA receive my application? I’m not sure if my application went through.
Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email confirmation. If you did not receive the email confirmation within one hour of applying, then we did not receive your application. You will need to resubmit your application.

NOTIFICATION OF WHO’S BEEN CHOSEN FOR THE STEERING COMMITTEE

When will you let me know if I have been picked to be on the Steering Committee?
All applicants are notified within approximately four to six weeks of the end date to apply for the panel of who has been chosen for the Steering Committee and who has been placed on the Advisory Committee.

If I am not picked to be on the Steering Committee, can I still contribute?Yes! All applicants who are not selected for the Steering Committee are placed on an Advisory Committee associated with the panel the applicant applied for.

I just joined ANA but when I try to click on the panel application form link it won’t give me access to the application form.
It takes about 10-15 minutes for the ANA application process to be completed. After 10-15 minutes, log out and then log back in. You should then be able to access the Professional Issues Panel application form.

When I try to submit my CV/resume it doesn’t work/I get an error message.
All CVs/resumes MUST be in Word, PDF and plain text format. The system will not accept any other format except these 3 formats. Resave the document (save it as your last name) in Word, PDF, or plain text format and attach it.

I have forgotten my ANA login and password. What do I do?
If you have forgotten your ANA login and/or password, Click here to receive an email to reset your password.

I need to speak to someone about my ANA membership. What do I do?
To contact the ANA Membership department: Email: memberinfo@ana.org, or call: 1-800-923-7709 (Including requests for additional information or current member change of address)

I have more questions about the ANA Professional Issues Panels. How can I contact someone?
Email professionalissuespanels@ana.org with further questions that were not answered by the ANA Professional Issues Panels FAQs.